AAP MP Raghav Chadha Demands Introduction of ‘Right to Recall’ to Remove Non-Performing MPs and MLAs
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha on Wednesday urged the government to introduce a ‘Right to Recall’ mechanism, stating that voters should have the legal power to remove elected representatives before the end of their five-year term if they fail to perform or are involved in misconduct.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour in Parliament, Chadha pointed out that while Indian citizens have the constitutional right to elect Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs), there is currently no provision to de-elect them mid-term on grounds of non-performance.
Explaining the proposal, the AAP leader said the Right to Recall law in India would enable voters to initiate a structured and legally defined process to remove an elected representative. He noted that the Indian Constitution already provides mechanisms such as impeachment of the President, Vice President, and judges, as well as no-confidence motions against governments.
Extending similar accountability to individual MPs and MLAs, Chadha argued, would strengthen transparency, democratic accountability, and voter empowerment in India.
Raghav Chadha Says ‘Five Years Is Too Long’ Without Accountability, Cites Global Right to Recall Models
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha said that “five years is a long tenure” to evaluate the performance of elected representatives, stressing that no profession allows underperformance for five years without consequences. He argued that voters should have the power to hold MPs and MLAs accountable before the completion of their term through a Right to Recall mechanism in India.
Highlighting global practices, Chadha noted that over 20 democracies, including the United States and Switzerland, have provisions for some form of voter-initiated recall or removal process at different levels of government.
However, the AAP leader emphasized that any Right to Recall law in India must include strict safeguards to prevent political misuse or instability. He proposed key guardrails, including a minimum threshold requirement, where a verified petition supported by at least 35–40% of registered voters in a constituency would be necessary to trigger a recall vote.
According to Chadha, such measures would ensure democratic accountability while maintaining political stability.
SUMMARY - AAP MP Raghav Chadha has called for the introduction of a Right to Recall mechanism in India, allowing voters to remove non-performing MPs and MLAs before their five-year term ends. Raising the issue during Zero Hour in Parliament, he said there is currently no system to de-elect representatives mid-term. Citing recall provisions in countries like the US and Switzerland, Chadha proposed safeguards such as requiring 35–40% voter support to trigger a recall vote to prevent misuse.
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